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Download PDF Government high-ups now mull initiating diplomatic moves to get help from countries concerned especially Myanmar to address the crisis arising out of use and trade in Yaba, a drug containing morphine and amphetamine.
The idea of diplomatic move followed recent raids by law enforcers that unfolded a gloomy picture of youths from the elite class either using the drug regularly or trading in it or doing both.
Interestingly, one week into launching the drive against use and trade in Yaba, price of the drug has risen four fold to Tk 1,200 per pill although the drive is still going on in full swing.
Law enforcers, especially the elite force Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) that are conducting the countrywide drive since October 18, have discussed requesting government high-ups to take up the issue at diplomatic level to address the crisis more effectively, official sources said.
High-ups both in the government and Rab also had informal discussion in this regard.
Rab is now working on a concrete proposal to be placed before the home ministry for initiation the diplomatic move. “The home ministry will forward the proposal to the foreign ministry so that it can take steps in this regard, ” a Rab source said.
The drug is smuggled into the country by air and land routes mainly from Thailand, Myanmar and Nepal.
Major supply of the drug comes regularly from Myanmar as we share around 271 km of border with that country — 208 km of land border and 63 km of river border– Rab sources said.
In case of a decision on taking up diplomatic moves, the proposal is likely to be sent to Myanmar first to help Bangladesh fight the new drug crisis.
Though production of Yaba is banned round the globe, it is being manufactured illegally in Myanmar and Thailand.
Thailand is also facing a serious crisis as use of the drug and trade in it are rising at an alarming rate. If any one in that country is found with more than four or five Yaba tablets, he is shot, sources in law enforcement agencies mentioned.
Bangaldesh could deal with Yaba crisis more effectively if the Myanmar government moves to stop its illegal production in that country and seal the route of smuggling, they say. Besides, vigilance by Bangladesh’s border security force must be stepped up to combat this menace.
So far, Rab recovered around 1.5 lakh Yaba tablets with the largest cache weighing over 5 kg (equivalent to 1.30 lakh pieces of the tablet) seized yesterday.
When the drive was launched, Yaba was available through a drug dealer syndicate with price ranging from Tk 300 to Tk 400 per piece.
The crisis reached the present stage over the last four years. And it prompted guardians of some drug users and traders to seek assistance from Rab to save their addicted children.
A Rab official involved in the anti-Yaba drive said, “Social awareness against use of the drug, strict monitoring by guardians, rehabilitation programme for the addicted, and steps to ensure entertainment facilities for the youths are necessary to combat the menace.”
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